COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONLike a mad scientist Spike starts with Big Hoppy Monster, Terrapin’s Imperial Red Ale, and its tantalizing hop aroma and enormous malt backbone. As if that if that wasn’t enough flavor for one beer, Spike ages it w/ French oak spirals for two months. The touch of toasted vanilla from the oak combines with the mammoth hop aroma and rich maltyness of the beer to create a complex flavor experience that’s electrifying! -2012 - 9.1%
2013 - 10.6%

On tap at the Room. Hazy dark reddish-brown with a rich head. Smells like a chewy caramel lumber yard. Fully body, creamy, bitter, woody, and lots of vanilla. Cohesive, it is ok stuff but as with any Terrapin beer too much crystal malt. Thus, it does not come together all that well and it gets tough to finish the glass.

Bottle from Alex. Copper colored pour with a khaki head. Very, very sweet aroma. Lots of caramel and brown sugar. Some pineapple, grapefruit, oak, and vanilla. A touch of booze on the nose as well. The flavor is quite sweet, but there is also a nice fruit note to it. Pineapple and grapefruit bite, light pine, and a fair amount of oak. Heavy doses of caramel and brown sugar sweetness, too.

Bottle shared by beerpig317. Poured clear dark copper color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate to heavy hop, vanilla wood and earthy aroma. Medium to full body with a slick texture and soft carbonation. Medium to heavy bittersweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet wood finish of moderate to long duration. My expectations where exceeded.

Name: Big Hoppy Monster 2008, oak agedDate: November 14, 2008Mode: DraftSource: Brick Store PubAppearance: clear dark ruby red, fine beige head, sheets of grey laceAroma: sweet caramel and vanilla aromaFlavor: lots more of the oak coming through in the flavor, the oak is playing well with the vanilla and caramel this time making for a great complex profile, oak gets a bit too strong after a while and combines with the hop bitterness

This is one powerful IPA. Rich orange/red color. Nice sticky head. aroma is powerful with resin, kerosene, and tons of malt profile too. Flavor is huge with matls and a very strong hop flavor almost a gasoline note to it. I couldnt drink more than one of these.

Served on draft at the Thirsty Monk in Asheville. Pours a clear deep red color with a medium head. Poor head retention and decent lacing. Aroma of big spicy hops with toffeish malts. Taste is citrus, resin, toffee, spice, vanilla and oak. Medium to full bodied.

Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community.
Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.
Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!